As of this writing, Lacey is back in and Damian is out. Boo, Damian didn’t have a chance. And I do like cute blonds. I think I’m going to call Karina as in, but she keeps tinkering with her website so I don’t know what to make of her changes. She made it sound like she was on, then she changed it again. I hope she didn’t get cut for Lacey. Sorry Lacey fans, I like Karina better. Personal preference.

Now I’m wondering if Alec is indeed IN, because if you do the math and there really are 12 couples they have to have Alec or add a new male pro. The women are much more in flux – harder to say what’s going on there.

I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)

I think someone mentioned it in another post (sorry I can’t remember who, there’s been posts and comments flying everywhere today!), but maybe they’ve decided at the last minute to add an extra couple, hence an uneven number of male & female pros…the question is, in whose favor will it tip? I’m guessing the girls, since Lacey was added back in, but then again, maybe one of the other female pros that isn’t sure yet got dropped unexpectedly, and thus the numbers remain even. Ai ai ai…my head hurts running all of the possibilities.

As for the new male pro…it seems like a possibility. A little birdie told me that he got a call from Elena (Grinenko, from seasons 2 & 3) the other day asking him if he’d be interested in doing the show. Apparently Elena now owns and operates a talent agency for ballroom dancers, and had a meeting with the casting directors sometime this week and she was looking for an “American male” dancer to pitch to them. Not sure if it was because of any vacancies in the male pro lineup, or if Elena was just trying to get someone from her agency cast, but it definitely sounded interesting to me.

@Heidi – Do you really see them using Alec? 😉 I mean, look at all the guys that they’ve dropped this season – Jonathan, Damian, & Dmitry. All pretty mellow, laid-back guys. Hell, even the women – Anna & probably Ashly – both relatively calm, compared to the other female pros. I almost feel like they’re trying to stack the deck full of either high-energy or high-drama pros this season…which could be good and could be bad. I haven’t decided yet…too much info flying around for my brain to process, hehe

@Heidi – But I wholeheartedly agree with you about Lacey – I’d take Karina over her any day. I think Karina’s the better dancer and the better choreographer…I find Lacey’s ballroom dances to be ghastly in terms of technique & composition. I won’t even comment on some of her off-camera behavior…let’s just say I don’t think she’s the most tactful individual.

Well, Court, you’re making an assumption that they’re getting rid of the calm pros and basing your theory on that – and it’s not for sure. Jonathan is off more than he’s on, and Damian and Dmitry are the new kids on the block and are not one of their established “stars”. The pros you mention as being high energy or “drama” are also quite famous in their own right. Damian and Dmirty aren’t. Alec isn’t really either, but Damian could be too short for someone and Dmitry too whatever – who knows?

I like Karina better than Lacey too. She’s definitely 1 of my favs. Sounds bad, but I like Lacey less since following her on twitter! I didn’t really like Damian, but that could be because he was paired with Pamela Anderson whom I can’t stand. Maks HAS to be in! He’s my absolute favorite!

Karina better than Lacey????? who is kidding who. Damien over Dimitry??? ugh Jonathan needs to be on
this is ballroom but it doesn’t have to be boring and Lacey brings some creativity, as does Cheryl. One reason I prefer So You Think You Can Dance over Dancing With the Stars, so much more creative, interesting, fun to watch.

Comparing SYTYCD and DWTS is like comparing apples and oranges. DWTS is taking (for the most part) a complete amateur and trying to make them look like a ballroom dancer. There are some creative routines, but not all of them are going to be incredibly amazing, since it is really based on the celebrities abilities. SYTYCD is taking Pro dancers and pairing them with another Pro dancer, so of course they’re going to have a lot more creative and wonderful routines, because they’re pros. I do have to say that I’m really not a fan of their ballroom routines on SYTYCD because it just looks like a series of lifts, and very little of the actual steps in the dance.

I know it’s wrong, but I’m sort of glad they didn’t use Damian this time. I just could not make myself like him last season, even though I really liked Pamela and he was pretty innocuous overall. I’d rather see Alec than Damian, if those are the choices. I’d rather see Jonathan or Dmitry over either of those two (and the whole Lacey switcheroo is giving me some (unfounded, I’m sure) hope.)

Also, since we’re comparing, I definitely like Karina better than Lacey on the show, but I actually really like Lacey’s twitter. She’s pretty sassy, but it’s entertaining.

All Right, so I was just at Kym’s twitter, and low and behold Jason Chambers, the actor/mixed martial arts guy tweeted her. I’m sure he was an early name in the mix awhile back. If I was a betting person, I’d say Kym has this guy.

I’m disappointed Lacey is back. I enjoy Karina’s dancing and choreography much more than anything about Lacey. She’s got an attitude and I find her dancing and choreography dull. So far, I’m not thrilled with the list of returning pros. I adore Edyta and am hoping she’s back. No news is good news and I feel like if she knew for sure she wasn’t she’d reveal it like everyone else. I hope Lacey didn’t wind up taking Anna T.’s spot. She’s usually the one who winds up sitting out when they make room for someone else. I bet Karina is back. Wish Ashly was, too. They need to give new pros like Damian another chance to build up a fanbase.

Jonathan and Dmitry should be back. They are entertaining enough and DO NOT overshadow their partners. I really cannot take Alec at all. Damian was not a very good dancer, so he need not return. I think bringing in a new male is not needed. Jonathan would be good for an older celeb and Dmitry would be a good pairing for a younger taller celeb. The tall women get the shaft on the show b/c they refuse to partner them with a male pro of substantial height.

I think Damian suffered in Pam’s shadow – he didn’t have a chance to shine because it was SO about Pam, and he rarely talked.

I also think he’s every bit as good a dancer as Dmitry – but the two guys are never going to compete for a partner since Damian is around Mark’s height. He’s more likely to compete with Derek, and I imagine he’ll be back when Derek decides he’s done. I’m waiting for that day with dread.

Guys, I’m not really inclined to change the status of pros who say they’re going to LA – if they’re under contract they probably have to be available to the show whether they have a partner or not. All that said, Maks and the guys still listed as unknown HAVE to be in by the math, unless they have more male celebs or they’ve hired a new male pro which we haven’t clued into yet.

@PrincessHeidi Yeah, Justin is following Kym but she’s not following back, some of the celebs I think aren’t aware of twitter leak, like Jennifer Grey and now Jason Chambers.

Cheryl followed Evan Lysacek just before last season, and she didn’t end up with him. So even though the “Situation” is on her follow list, I think Cheryl probably has someone else as a partner and this is a just a little sidetrack to get us off the follow trail. I think he’s definitely on the show however.

I’m not giving up on my Bachelorette kittens Ali and Roberto. Even though as late as yesterday morning on Good Day LA, Ali cagely said they weren’t asked, they were in LA and could have taken a meeting or two after that morning show. It just doesn’t make sense for the announcement to happen on the Bachelor Pad show without at least Ali (hopefully with Roberto) to be one of the celebrities. These guys brought in the highest ratings for that Bachelor franchise in years. Otherwise the show would have went back to announcing it on GMA.

Re: Damian, yes it was all about Pam and Damian was definitely in the shadow of her celebrity, but Pam was generous with him and took him to do Just for Laughs in Montreal, and then they did an appearance together on
DWTS Austraila, so living in her shadow came with a few
jobs after the elimination. Not a bad thing, hopefully he’ll do more in the pro numbers this season.

Cheryl and Evan have the same agent at IMG as does Mark so that’s probably why they were following each other before Season 10.

I think Jennifer Grey would be great. Very timely too given the renewed awareness of Dirty Dancing over the last year. I did not realize she was 50–wow she could be the mother of some of the pros. Hard to believe!

Isn’t that IMG agent for sports? I think she was following DWTS pros Cheryl, Derek and Mark before season 10. They could have just known each other before. Evan was in a LA before the Olympics and were friends.

@John IMG cover other types of entertainers too. Evan, Cheryl, Mark, Kristi Yamaguchi, Mirai Nagasu all have the same agent. The agent tweets back and forth with them and about their appearances all the time.

I’ve unfortunately not been as up on DWTS because it’s on during the fall (when I’m at school), so I tend to watch SYTYCD more often since it’s on in the summer. That being said, I would love to see some of the DWTS do pieces for SYTYCD. Louis and Jonathan have both done beautiful pieces for the show, and really get to take the choreography to the next level because there aren’t any rules. And the dancers may be professional, they may not, but choreographing for SYTYCD isn’t any easier because you are sometimes dealing with two dancers who are way out of their genre (like when poor Billy Bell got krump this year, yikes). I loved DWTS in the beginning because it didn’t seem to be as much of a publicity stunt. I rooted for Evan this year, but all the negative press that came after Nicole won (“this was rigged” etc etc) just totally turned me off.

Ah Margaret, we’ve had this discussion before – SYTYCD still has a huge advantage and an easier choreography job because even if the dancers are outside their own genre, they’re still in top condition to dance – the same cannot be said for DWTS. Look at Niecy Nash versus, say the little girl who won SYTYCD this season.

@Margaret, I didn’t hear any negative press about Nicole winning, other than a few loons over at the ABC board who couldn’t believe that people actually voted for someone other than Evan. The win for Nicole and Derek was pretty decisive according to the voters, the press and Olympians like Kristie Yamaguchi and Apolo Ohno, and even Evan himself, gracious in defeat.

Like Courtney said, the ABC boards should rot in hell – never EVER have I seen such a vile and disgusting message board. If ABC had any stones at all they would shut it down – or, here’s an idea, MODERATE it. It is the true example of people who are anonymous using that anonymity to be their true, vile and disgusting selves. Derek and Cheryl fans don’t go there any more and if anyone actually reads that place on a regular basis – stop, because it can easily twist your perception to be much more negative than reality. The things that were routinely said about Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft…. a whole host of people, were just so disturbing to read that it actually made me very angry – and it wasn’t even about people that I was a fan of!

maybe I just happened upon the bad press, I don’t know. I saw a few of her dances, I thought she was great. The only reason I rooted for Evan is because I’m a big sports fan. I am not a dancer, will never pretend to be one, haha, and I’m in awe of what they can do on DWTS as well as SYTYCD. I think the reason that sticks in my head as to why SYTYCD choreography is hard is because you could get 2 people who are totally out of their genre. Regardless of how fit they are, maybe they’ve never done partner dancing before. The choreographers are always coming up against road blocks, no matter what the show is. That’s really why I have so much respect for them, and why I’d love to see more DWTS choreographers get a chance to do a piece for SYTYCD, get to see them out of the “DWTS bubble.”

What I don’t understand, Margaret, is why we haven’t seen Derek over at SYTYCD at all. He’s tight with both Adam and Mia, and I’m sure he knows Nigel. I have a feeling there are a few pros they aren’t going to let do that show because they are more high profile. I could be wrong, but I would kill to see what Derek could do on that show.

I can’t believe Damian Whitewood isn’t returning for Season 11, except to dance results shows. I think it’s unfair, considering how well he danced with Pam and did some terrific work with her. For once, let the new guys have a chance instead of always choosing Derrick Hough to participate in every season. Damian is about the same height has Derrick and do just as well. Why pull this guy from his country and his Broadway gig, just to dance for one show, it sucks and it’s unfair. Maybe it’s best that he isn’t on season 11, have you seen the cast of wana-be stars, it’s pathetic. I hope that ole broad that is dancing with Derrick is so terrible, that they vote him off the show. Derrick is so full of himself, he think he’s the best dancer there! If the other dancers could get a descent partner, they could go all the way as well! Damian you’re hot and you rock!!!!!

Actually, Mary, Damian is 2 to 3 inches shorter than Derek and Derek is FAR from the only one who is on every season. Mark, Maks, Tony – always on. Fact of life on DWTS when you’re a popular pro. Damian also was done with his Broadway run – that show closed well before the season started – Derek closed it in the lead, after taking over from Maks. I also believe that Damian lives here full time – he was not “pulled from his country”.

Damian is good, I like him a lot – but Derek IS the best dancer there.

While Derek is not necessarily my favorite, gotta admit he’s damn good – I could agree to “the best” even! Probably the freshest, most innovative choreographer on the show. What I don’t like, though, is seeing the same pros season after season after season. Even if they’re GREAT, I’d still like to see ABC mix it up a little. Let’s have more of Johnathan, for instance, more of Dmitry, Ashly Costa and yes, more of Damian. Of course, the pros are matched to the celebs, not the other way around so if we had a bevvy of tall women celebs, I guess we’d see more of Johnathan. And I also understand why ABC would consistently choose Derek over someone like Johnathan (ratings, baby, ratings). Edyta sitting out a season is a good thing – and not because she is a bad dancer, or a bad teacher, or a bad choreographer – just ’cause it’s time. A little fresh blood is bound to invigorate all, up EVERYONE’S game!

Oh, Linde, I agree – I’d like to see them mix it up a bit too and I’d especially like to see what Damian could do with another dancer. He did great with Pam, but he was overshadowed tremendously by PAM, if you know what I mean. She has a huge presence – and I”m not being dirty, I swear. But Derek is the one who is making the other pros up their game right now, so I imagine if he sits out a season it will be HIS idea. And I’m afraid that time is coming sooner rather than later. I’m afraid he’ll find something better to do or he’ll decide that he’s out of material – he’s bound to run out, which is where I think Edyta might be and possibly Maks too.

Anyway, the producers are going to pick the ones they see as the top tier pros consistently because they have fanbases in their own right. They see who gets the fan mail, to put it simply. I wouldn’t count Dmitry and Damian out though – I’m of the firm opinion that those two guys, at least, are being prepped for the day that Derek and Mark leave. Because I think both of them will, eventually. I could be wrong. Derek consistently surprises me.

I agree that Derek & Mark will eventually leave the show – sooner rather than later. I have to imagine they have a lot of other irons in the fire and this twice a year standing commitment must get in the way at times, plus the burn out factor. Yes, it’s always different with a different celeb, but still. They must have fulfilled their intitial contracts by now, surely, and are on a year to year basis? How does that work – do you know? I’ve sometimes wondered if that pro fan base isn’t behind some of the pairings (not that it helped Shannon Doherty any). I often have to chuckle when I read “where do they dig up these so-called celebs – I thought it was called dancing with the STARS” – my thinking is always: “Well, so-and-so IS dancing with a star: ____ (insert your favorite pro’s name)

No one seems to be sure how the contracts operate, but I assume they are both on year to year at this point, especially since both said they were initially reluctant to be contracted long term. Derek has a really good manager with a top agency – who do TV and movies. There have been lots of other hints that he’s headed in that direction. I think it’s clear that Mark’s heart is in music. I think it’s just a question of the right project for either of them and DWTS will be history. That’s why I don’t sweat his partners so much anymore – I’m just grateful he’s on the show. Now I just have to pray that Cheryl Cole moves to the US, else we might never see Derek again.

It’s funny you say that about stars – someone just joked on twitter saying, “Bristol Palin is on DWTS? I wonder which star she’ll be dancing with.” LOL – indeed.

One more thing about Damian Whitewood, he was not overshadowed by Pam Anderson. As a matter of fact, they both were together on the following shows together and Damian did most of the talking:

The Ellen Show (3 Times with Pam)
Good Day LA
The Jimmie Kimmel Show
CNN with Larry King
The Joy Behar Show
Damian was also invited back to his home turf of Australia, where he and Pam did the openning number for their DWTS and then they flew to Vancouver to guess star on some Comedy club show. So, it’s not like no one knew Damian, he certainly had a lot of exposure and he’s still doing working. He just came back from Vegas with his girlfriend Peta for some appearance. I guess I will have to be satisfied with watching him on the results show of DWTS. By the way he’s 5’7″, I read his bio.

Mary, not sure what your point is about Damian being 5’7″ – I said he was 2 to 3 inches shorter than Derek, who is 5’10” so there’s no error there. Damian is actually tied with Louis as shortest male pros. As for being overshadowed by Pam – we’re talking about DWTS and I definitely think he was overshadowed by her there.

The celebrity men will be announced the second half of the Bachelor Pad’s show. Cho looks like she’s gained weight, the other ladies are thin and they look good. Jennifer Gray is really showing her age! Should be interesting this season.